"He's not dead!"
Naruto sat back on his throne and put away the Red-Glow Fishing Rod. "I just took his fruit, that's all."
"Let's go. Marineford should be pretty lively by now!"
The Ark Maxim slowly started up, its dragon-headed prow rising as it flew toward Marineford.
Kuina glanced back at the figure floating on the sea. He grew smaller and smaller, finally becoming a speck before vanishing among the waves.
She slowly withdrew her gaze.
Meanwhile, Marineford had descended into utter chaos.
Cannon fire, slashing blades, explosions...
In the plaza, the Three Admirals each held a different position.
Akainu's magma covered more than half the ground, Aokiji had raised dozens of ice walls, and Kizaru's golden light darted through the battlefield.
The Seven Warlords were in the thick of it too.
Doflamingo's cutting strings lashed out from afar, and Hawkeye's Black Blade unleashed green sword qi,
The Empress's Perfume Femur sent a swath of Marines flying, while Moria darted wildly through the crowd.
Whitebeard stood at the rear, his Supreme Grade Sword, Murakumogiri, planted against the ground. The Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power erupted from his fists from time to time, shaking every cannonball the Marines fired at him into powder.
The pirates around him kept falling.
"Pops!"
Marco descended from the sky, his expression grim. "Ace's execution is getting closer. If we keep stalling, they really will do it."
Whitebeard did not answer immediately.
His gaze passed over the chaotic battlefield and settled on the Execution Platform.
Ace knelt there with his head lowered, Seastone Handcuffs locked around his wrists.
Two executioners stood on either side of the Execution Platform, their blades already raised.
"Pops!"
A Division Commander rushed over, covered in blood. "The Marines keep getting reinforcements! Our people can't hold out much longer!"
Whitebeard fell silent for